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The American Homestyle and Gardening magazine can be a very useful magazine to subscribe to if you are interested in improving your home and garden. There are plenty of tips on decorating and home improvements as well as gardening and money saving tips. The magazine advertises products for the home and garden, some of them at discount prices. It also has a series of articles on homestyle and on gardening. Below are summaries of two useful articles in the American Homestyle and Gardening Magazine.
Landscape Design and Energy Efficiency
There are specific techniques that you can use in the design of your garden which will help to increase energy efficiency in your home. For example the way you place the trees and shrubs that you put outside your home can have a significant impact on the way the place is warmed and cooled. If, for example, you place deciduous trees to the south side of your home this will have an effect on the amount of hot sun on the building – thus acting as a cooling agent in the summer whilst still allowing the winter sun through
The American Homestyle and Gardening Magazine states that according to the US Department of Energy the correct placing of two or three trees will save the average household an estimated $100-$250 a year in energy costs. The trees should not be planted to close to the house however, because with maturity the roots could damage structures. Evergreens form a useful windbreak which can save on heating costs. They should be planted at a distance from the house equal to three to five times the size of a mature tree. Designing your garden therefore can be done with energy saving in mind.
Repairing Guttering
If you are redesigning your garden, while at the same time attempting to save on costs; then it is a good idea to make good any problems with your guttering. This will improve the outside appearance of your home and prevent any damp seeping through the walls. The American Homestyle and Gardening Magazine has some helpful advice on repairing guttering. Gutters sometimes develop holes
Home Gardening Tips
For many people, gardening is a wonderful hobby and pastime that rewards you visually for all the hard work you put into it. The relaxing and therapeutic feeling that people get while working in their gardens is the reason that it is one of the most popular hobbies in America. Not only does it make you forget your everyday worries and stress and provides you with plenty of fresh air but it is a great way to exercise, instead of having to work out at the gym. It is wonderful to be able to sit outside and look around at the beautiful, lush garden that you planted and nurtured. It gives a person not only a wonderful sense of satisfaction but also accomplishment. By following a few home gardening tips, everyone is capable of having a gorgeous, lush garden that will not only delight you but also your neighbors and friends.
Trees and Shrubs
Here are a few home gardening tips to remember that are extremely important when shopping for new trees or shrubs. When most people purchase trees and shrubs, these are small, so they plant them close to their house or under windows. Over the years, these trees and shrubs outgrow their location causing numerous problems. The tree roots end up growing into the foundation of your house and into sewage and water lines. This not only causes damage but also makes it necessary to have the tree removed. Many shrubs grow very large and block the sunlight through your windows, become unruly and often spoil the look of your landscaping. Two very important home gardening tips to remember are to always find out exactly how large the trees and shrubs you are interested in will grow. The second of the home gardening tips is, never plant any tree close to the foundation of your home. It could end up being very costly repairing the damage the tree roots causes and eventually having !
the tree removed.
Some other great home gardening tips are to prune your shrubs and vines, which require pruning, back in the fall, so there is airflow through them, which encourages new growth in the spring. Keep all new trees and shrubs well watered until they are established. Plants that you have watered well survive far better during the freezing temperatures than plants starting winter without enough water. Never plant new trees and shrubs during the summer months. Late fall is the best time to plant these so that the roots remain healthy and strong. By following a few home gardening tips, you end up with lovely trees and shrubs that add beauty and interest to your landscaping, are easy to maintain and will bring you many years of enjoyment.